Are they Ready to Become Educators? A Self-Assessment among Bachelor of Education (Sport Sciences & Physical Education) Undergraduates, Sultan Idris Education University, Malaysia

Abstract

A good quality of educator is probably the most critical part of learning process. Considering this, the fresh graduates’ teacher must possess the competency in various areas to prepare with the challenges of the 21^st century. The aim of this study is to determine the readiness level of Bachelor of Education (B. Ed) final year undergraduates to become educators. The self-assessment survey was designed in accordance with the Malaysian Teachers’ Standards, which explore the knowledge and skills on programme learning outcome (PLO), moral values, information & communication technology (ICTs), language, soft skills, teaching & facilitation and assessment & evaluation (A&E). The respondents were the final year undergraduates in Sultan Idris Education University (UPSI), Malaysia in academic year of 2018. Results indicated that the final year undergraduates were ‘ready’ to become educators for 6 out 8 attributes, whereas they were still ‘approaching readiness’ for Language Skills and A&E. This may suggested that the final year undergraduates have a higher readiness level for most of the basic knowledge and skills as educators. However to become a competence educator, they need to have a strong knowledge and skills on both language and A&E skills as they are essential elements in the learning process.